I-131 will not be ready in time, was offered 30 day travel stamp. Advice?

[helbeans 0]

Hi everyone,

I hope there is someone out there who can give me some advice about this.

My Adjustment of status documents as well as my I-131 Advance Parole was received by USCIS on September 11th 2015. I filed the I-131 to go home for my brother's wedding which is November 14th. Online sources let me to believe the average wait time is 2 months, so I thought that's a little close but I could make it in time.

About 2 weeks ago when I still hadn't received anything I started calling the helpline. Omg what a nightmare. Is anyone else as frustrated as I am by that system? Anyway, they told me the wait time is THREE months but I could try to expedite my application.I do that, but a few days later I was denied because my situation was "not urgent enough." After more calls, I was told I can make an appointment at my local immigration office. I go online but the only available appointment is AFTER November 14th. I call again and this time I am told I can go without an appointment, but there is no guarantee anyone will be able to help me.

I go to the office anyway, I wait two hours and was very rudely told that it is impossible to expedite my request since it is not an emergency. But, I am sent to another window, where another representative tells me they can offer me a 30 day emergency travel stamp. They tell me I need to fill out the I-131 again and bring proof of my brother's wedding and me and my brother's birth certificates to prove that we are related. Apparently the 30 day stamp is immediately given - on the same day.

Now, this sounds like the miracle I've been hoping for, but does anyone have any experience with this stamp?? I understand that if I miss the 30 day deadline I won't be allowed back into the States, and the lady at immigration assured me that the stamp guarantees my re-entry, but still...I'm worried! My brother is now frantically trying to get his birth certificate translated. I'm just hoping someone can put my mind at ease about this situation.

Has anyone traveled outside of the States with a 30 day stamp like this?

[Pitaya 2,577]

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[Hypnos 6,576]

As they told you, attending a wedding is not an urgent situation requiring you to travel, and is not a valid reason for an expedite.

The "stamp" is probably an emergency AP document. Regardless of what you were told, I'm not convinced they would issue you with such a document. There's nothing stopping you from trying though.

[helbeans 0]

Thanks for the advice. I managed to get the emergency advance parole. But when I left, no one at the airport asked me for my paperwork. They also didn't stamp my passport. Is this normal?

[Unidentified 2,930]

Thanks for the advice. I managed to get the emergency advance parole. But when I left, no one at the airport asked me for my paperwork. They also didn't stamp my passport. Is this normal?

Yes it is normal. You will show the paperwork to the CBP officers when you return. Expect to spend some time in secondary inspection, it's routine. I spend 1 1/2 hours there for a 5 minute talk to an officer because they were busy searching people's bags so if you have a connection flight inside the US I recommend having A LOT of time in between.

I'm really surprised you got the emergency AP for a non emergency situation. But I guess it went under "compelling reasons".

[helbeans 0]

Thanks for your reply. That makes me feel much more at ease about the situation. I did have to work very hard for my I-131 but I'm so happy it worked out it the end. My brother's wedding was amazing!